Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1887-11-16

A VIEW of the battle field after the
smoke has passed away is often instruc-
tive in the revelations it makes. The
contest last week was waged in the
name of no great issues, specifically
the usual struggle of contending par
ties for the Offices, but back and be-
yond this was the hidden germ of the
Presidential canvas that will bloom out
next year, and this to many foreshad-
owed the result.
On Thursday morning the editor of
the New York World addressed a tele-
gram to the leading men of both par
ties asking their views as to the effect
of the recent elections. The answers
filed five columns and showed that
with great unanimity the Democratic
statemeD and editors gave expression
to the opinion that the elections (espe-
cial stress being laid on New York be-
yOnd peradventure settles the renomi-
nation and election of Grover CleVe-
land for President, at the same time
expressing the opinion that it put Mr..
Blaine out Of the contest. The Repub-
licans conceded the denomination of
Mr.. Cleveland and that Blaine hasn't
the same grasp as before, but hold that
he is still in the field for 1888. They
also claim that there is little change in
the relative position between '84 and
'S8-New York is still a debatable
state while New Jersey, Indiana and
Connecticut are more certain to 20 Re
publican.
Besides that, the vote shows that the
Labor Party will be no important fac
tor either way in. deciding a national
contest, in fact they are growing weak
er instead of stronger. Col. Flowers
who competed with Mr.. Cleveland for
the nomination of '84, in a speach last
week while claiming that all obstacles
which gave a doubt as to the issue
were now out Of the way, went on fur
ther to say that this was the last fight
they would have with the Republican
party, that hereafter it would be tenn
perance party. The tenor of his speech
was that the saloon keepers and brew
ers were with them with their immense
power, and as that would be a growing
issue of the future, the tendency of
those opposed would naturally be to
the Republican party and as a curse
more wide spread than slavery, (domi-
mating the free as well as the slave
state) it must be decided by the ballot.
In New York and Pennsylvania the
liquor interest last week threw its in
fuence against the Republicans be-
cause in both states the traffic had been
interferred with by the passage of high
license laws which however in New
York was vetoed by Gov. Hill. In
several states the Republicans have
gone so far as to pass prOhibitory laws
and in others high license laws, as have
the Democrats in several of the South
ern States, and faster than many peo-
pie suppose, the public mind is crystal
izing for and against the liquor issue as
a great national question. The LIQUOR
men with their complete organization
and immense resources of money and
retainers will be formidable as an Or
ganizatiOn, but will lose year by year
from the deadly fire in the rear among
their own ranks over the bar-eveFy
saloon doing its own work of death in
thinning the ranks.
The great problem of redeeming and
discriminating from the servitude OF
rum may be slow or fast, as the moral
senses shall become aroused or politi-
cal action works quick and strong, but
its success is as inevitable as that we
are TO be governed by the principles OF
democratic government.
We have given above the gist Of what
the two great parties have to say in re-
gard to the result. Henry George,
after giving the matter Of the election
a days consideration, shows in last
weeks Standard that he is not disheart.
ened at the falling away of his follow.
ers of last year. He admits that " the
result is not victory, but" he claims
sit is one Of those glorious defeats that
make future victories possible"
OF the manner in which voters were
bribed Mr.. George says
Not content with taking men into
saloons and there buying their votes
workers were sent TO the houses, and
Sn some parts ofthe city women could
be seen with baskets on their arms gos.
siping with each other as to the money
that JachD or Joey had received for
his vote, and how good a dinner they
were going 10 have. 1t was almost
enough TO make one despair of the re.
public to visit the poorer quarters OIL
the city on election day and see tbf
crowds and hear the talk. Certain 4
is that in New York City the very
springs of political life are being poison.
ed, the very foundations of democratic
government sapped and mined by hab.
itual corruption. And what is true Of
New York city is true in some place tC
an even greater degree throughout ths
State. Large numbers of our people
whose votes count for as much as tho
votes of the most thoughtful and intel
Iigent. are becoming habituated to re
gard their votes merely as something